Date of Graduation

Summer 2022

Degree

Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Jordan Belisle

Abstract

Consumer behavior continues to play a centralized role in the anthropogenic (i.e., human) factors causing exponentiated rates of climate change at a global scale. The present study utilized a mixed-method research design which combined components from both quantitative and qualitative research. The purpose of the mixed-methods study was to examine the extent to which self-monitoring and incentivization through extra credit in a graduate psychology course would impact participants pro or anti-climate behaviors using two commercially available applications. In the primary study, eight participants selected from a graduate psychology course at Missouri State University completed a combined intervention including self-monitoring of climate related behavior using two commercially available applications. Following the two weeklong baseline phase, extra credit was provided contingent upon improved performance in a changing criterion design across participants. After the intervention phase, a follow-up qualitative interview was completed with all eight participants, to obtain the perspectives of the participants about different components of the research study. A three-tiered thematic analysis was conducted. Three major themes emerged throughout the analysis: (1) barrier to reducing emissions, (2) behavioral influence, and (3) influence of values. Results provide implications for future research, and limitations as well as potential avenues for future research are discussed.

Keywords

climate change, consumer behavior, incentivization, eco-feedback, thematic analysis

Copyright

© Meredith T. Matthews

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Open Access

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